Opposition barred from Syria’s July vote

Syria’s exiled opposition will be barred from a presidential vote to be held before July, virtually ensuring Bashar al-Assad’s re-election three years into an uprising against his family’s four-decade rule.

Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the revolt, which began as peaceful protests calling for democratic change but deteriorated into an insurgency and civil war after the regime brutally cracked down on dissent.

Assad has remained in power despite fighting that has killed more than 146,000 people and driven millions from their homes, while rebels have seized large swathes of the country.

In keeping with a constitution adopted in 2012, the election will be open for the first time to multiple candidates, including from outside the ruling Baath party. Assad has not announced his candidacy but is expected to seek another seven-year term.

A new electoral law approved by parliament says any candidate must have lived in Syria for the past 10 years and not hold any other nationality. That effectively bars any member of the Istanbul-based National Coalition, an umbrella opposition group.

The only other candidates who appear eligible would be those from the tolerated opposition in Damascus, who have little popular support and no connection to the rebels.